By the Caribbean Journal staff
The US Virgin Islands Port Authority is exploring an opportunity to increase cruise passenger visits to the island of St Croix.
The plan would be to modify the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted to accommodate Quantum-class cruise ships, according to the Port Authority.
The organization’s board has approved a study to analyze the feasibility of doing so, and determine what modifications would be needed to berth Quantum-class ships — and the most cost effective method to do so, according to a statement.
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class is the third-largest class of cruise ships; each such call could bring up to 4,905 visitors to St Croix.
Several other Caribbean destinations have expanded their piers to accommodate such ships in recent years, most notably Saint Lucia and San Juan.
The largest ships that currently berth in St Croix have a max capacity of up to 2,501 passengers.
— CJ